THREE WYOMING FIREFIGHTERS STRUCK BY SUV; HIT WHILE WORKING AT SCENE OF CAR CRASH

OJULIETTE RULE, Courtesy of Wyoming Tribune Eagle CHEYENNE – The Jeep Cherokee slid across both lanes, spun out of control and struck the front end of a rescue truck – one of six emergency vehicles parked well off the right shoulder of Interstate 25. From there, Rena Holm’s car, loaded with her family, rolled over and down the steep embankment, striking Laramie County Fire District 1 firefighter Steve Winegeart and forcing him through the air before it came to rest on top of Fire District 1 Chief Bill Alexander’s legs. A third volunteer firefighter, Karl Zunker, chief of Fire District 10, was hurt when battery acid from the Jeep splashed his face. Six emergency vehicles with flashing lights parked well off the roadway. Four cars damaged and nine victims taken by ambulance to United Medical Center-West. CHEYENNE – The Jeep Cherokee slid across both lanes, spun out of control and struck the front end of a rescue truck – one of six emergency vehicles parked well off the right shoulder of Interstate 25. Four cars damaged and nine victims taken by ambulance to United Medical Center-West. For Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers, there is no excuse for this crash. “She couldn’t slow down to care for the people on the ground,” Sgt. Steve Townsend said, noting Holm was cited for failing to maintain a single lane. The 48-year-old Pine, Colo., woman couldn’t have known rescue workers already were responding to two separate but successive crashes three miles north of the Wyoming/Colorado state line. But with an unobstructed view of the road and skid marks beginning in the left lane, investigators believe Holm saw the bursts of red and blue strobe lights as an icy drizzle fell over the area at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. It was one of several injury and non-injury crashes across Wyoming as a spring storm brought both snow and icy rain to the Cowboy State. The bridge deck was sanded after the second rollover and just before Holm crossed over it, Townsend said. That third rollover led troopers to close I-25, rerouting traffic to Terry Bison Ranch Road and South Greeley Highway with help from Cheyenne police officers. With two victims loaded in ambulances that had responded to the first crashes at 8:30 a.m., firefighters were tending to the Ford SUV and Ranger pickup when Holm lost control of her Jeep. Firefighters Alexander and Zunker were treated at UMC-West and released, along with all three drivers and Holm’s three passengers – Troy Holm, 35, Sean Holm, 7, and Nick Holm, 9 – all were treated at UMC-West and released, according to a news release. The other two drivers were Scott Norgaard, 46, of Denver, and John Gilbert, 29, of Loveland, Colo. But Winegeart remained in UMC-West’s intensive care unit with internal injuries, according to a Highway Patrol news release. Winegeart’s head trauma and internal injuries left firefighters very concerned about his survival, Steele said. The 29-year-old has been a Fire District 1 volunteer for the last three years. “This is pretty hard on our firefighters, obviously,” he said. “We’re a close-knit community. They call it a brotherhood . we are truly a family.” Those wanting to help Winegeart with expenses can make donations at Wells Fargo Bank, where an account has been opened. The account is called “Fire District 1 Injured Firefighter,” Steele said. Both Holm and Norgaard were cited for failing to maintain a single lane of travel, while Gilbert of Loveland was cited for traveling too fast for conditions. All citations carry a $60 fine, Townsend said, adding that each crash was investigated by a different trooper, and each holds discretionary power when citing drivers. “It all boils down to speeds too fast for conditions,” Townsend. All drivers and passengers were wearing seat belts, he added. Icy roads delivered with a foot of wet snow brought troopers to 24 injury crashes throughout the state Thursday. Robert Cardenas, 53, of Casper died when his pickup rolled of I-25 near Kaycee, according to The Associated Press.!

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